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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

'Berserk' India bus driver kills nine in Pune

A bus driver has smashed his vehicle into traffic and pedestrians in the western Indian city of Pune, killing nine people and injuring 27 others.

The driver damaged 40 vehicles before the bus was brought to a halt after 30 minutes and police arrested him.

The driver, named as Santosh Maruti Mane, "went berserk" on a 25km (17 mile) rampage during the morning rush hour, police said.

They are questioning the 30-year-old driver to try to determine a motive.

'Second life'
Mr Mane, who is a driver with the government-run state transport department, arrived at a bus depot early on Wednesday and drove off with an empty bus, police said.

Eyewitnesses said he drove the vehicle at very high speed and on the wrong side of the road through busy areas, running over pedestrians and smashing into vehicles.

Police opened fire at the bus to try to bring it to a halt.

"We don't know why the driver behaved like this. He just went berserk. We are trying to find out the reason. A college student took control of the bus when it slowed down after hitting a vehicle," Pune police chief Meeran Borwankar told reporters.

"Citizens came forward and literally threw children away from the road. He was in such a dangerous mood. Ultimately he was held [by police] but the damage has been tremendous," she said.

TV pictures showed smashed cars, cycles and auto-rickshaws that had been hit by the bus.

"Whoever came in his way, he just rammed into them," one eyewitness told a news channel.

Another witness said: "I was out jogging, there was a noise, I jumped immediately that is why I was saved. This is my second life, I would have been dead."